(CNN) – A national ban on assault weapons may have met all-but-certain death in the Senate this week, but one of the measure’s proponents – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg – said Sunday his fight wasn’t over.

“I don't think there's ever been an issue where the public has spoken so clearly, where Congress hasn't eventually understood and done the right thing,” Bloomberg said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid left off the ban on assault weapons when he introduced gun control legislation in the upper chamber. The measure would expand background checks, improve school safety and restrict gun trafficking.

The assault weapons ban, which was introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, will be voted on as an amendment to the larger gun control bill. It’s not expected to gain approval in the full Senate.

But despite the ban’s demise, Bloomberg said part of his goal – having the Senate vote on the measure – will be met.

“We demanded a plan and then we demanded a vote. We have the plan. We're going to get the vote. It's incumbent on us to make our voices heard,” Bloomberg said, adding he thought eventually a ban would succeed in Congress.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us. I don't think we should give up on the assault weapons ban. But clearly it is a more difficult issue for a lot of people,” he said.

On Saturday, Bloomberg’s anti-gun violence group announced it was spending another $12 million to air ads putting pressure on Republican and Democratic lawmakers to vote for tighter gun control laws. The group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, had already spent tens of millions on previous ads.

The television push amounts to Bloomberg trying “to impose his will on the American public,” according to Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association.

“They don’t want him in their restaurants, they don’t want him in their homes, they don’t want him telling what food to eat. They sure don’t want him telling what self-defense firearms to own. He can’t buy America,” LaPierre said, also on NBC.

soundoff(28 Responses)

Lynn

Bloomberg is out of touch. NY doesn't get to dictate the laws for the rest of the country.

March 24, 2013 11:45 pm at 11:45 pm |

BanGuns2013

Bloomberg is right.I want a gun ban. I want to see all guns banned from public ownership and I'm from Texas. Why the government lets any civilian own any kind of weapon is beyond me.And for people that say it is a Constitutional right and the founding fathers wanted it this way. Guess what, they believed in a lot of different things then we do like slave ownership for one. Plus, they have been dead for along time and The Constitution is outdated for modern life.It is time for a big change to happen in this country. We can not keep living in the past and let a piece of paper dictate our progress to becoming the Greatest Nation in the history of the World.

March 25, 2013 12:00 am at 12:00 am |

Thomas

Go for it Mayor , Ban all assault weapons from New Your City , other cites will follow .